Trickle Down Theory

Oct 30, 2009

This past week I paid a visit to what is perhaps the ultimate sustainable house-in-progress. It's a multi-million dollar project, way beyond the means of financial mortals like myself, but sure was fun to do a walk through. They've got 30-kilowatts of solar PV (we have less than 2, and think we're living large), and three masonry heaters in the main house (probably $100k right there). In the nearby barn, there are going to be four Tarm wood boilers that will heat 1200-gallons of water for storage for use in the radiant slabs that run throughout the house. Much of the lumber was harvested from trees on site and dried in an on-site solar kiln. Even the forklifts run on biodiesel.
In some ways, it was just another display of wealth run amok. But in others, it was inspiring. I mean, with the money we're talking about, this person could have built anything and could have afforded the huge non-renewable energy bills that would have appeared each month. Instead, they chose put their dough into renewable and sustainable technologies and practices that may or may not ever pay back. I think that's commendable. Sure, there's something of a disconnect between all the renewables and the fact that they're going into a home and barn that's probably six times larger than this person needs. But then, who am I to say what she needs? After all, our home is 2200-square feet; smaller than the average American house, but far larger and more luxurious than most people on this planet will ever know.
We seem to be entering into a period of "have-your-cake-and-eat-it-to," at least among those of us who can afford it. The growing awareness of global warming and the ramifications of sending our billions to regimes that don't particularly care for us have gotten a lot of people re-thinking their energy use. That's good. Now, we just need for it to trickle down.